diff --git a/cmd/import.go b/cmd/import.go
index c09e9c77d..7e82bfd46 100644
--- a/cmd/import.go
+++ b/cmd/import.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ omitted. If it is present then its format should be YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM.
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Host, "host", "", "localhost:10101", "host:port of Pilosa.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Index, "index", "i", "", "Pilosa index to import into.")
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Field, "field", "f", "", "Field to import into.")
-	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.StringKeys, "string-keys", false, "DEPRECATED (key type is now determined by index/field configuration): Treat payload as string keys.")
+	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.StringKeys, "string-keys", false, "REMOVED (key type is now determined by index/field configuration): Treat payload as string keys.")
 	flags.IntVarP(&Importer.BufferSize, "buffer-size", "s", 10000000, "Number of bits to buffer/sort before importing.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&Importer.Sort, "sort", "", false, "Enables sorting before import.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&Importer.CreateSchema, "create", "e", false, "Create the schema if it does not exist before import.")
diff --git a/ctl/import.go b/ctl/import.go
index 06cc662d1..e8d6c8f37 100644
--- a/ctl/import.go
+++ b/ctl/import.go
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ type ImportCommand struct { // nolint: maligned
 	// CreateSchema ensures the schema exists before import
 	CreateSchema bool
 
-	// DEPRECATED: Indicates that the payload should be treated as string keys.
+	// REMOVED: Indicates that the payload should be treated as string keys.
+	// TODO: remove this in a future release
 	StringKeys bool `json:"StringKeys"`
 
 	// Filenames to import from.
@@ -79,9 +80,9 @@ func NewImportCommand(stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer) *ImportCommand
 func (cmd *ImportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	logger := log.New(cmd.Stderr, "", log.LstdFlags)
 
-	// DEPRECATED: warning that --string-keys flag has been deprecated.
+	// REMOVED: warning that --string-keys flag has been deprecated.
 	if cmd.StringKeys {
-		logger.Printf("DEPRECATED: The string-keys flag is no longer used.")
+		logger.Printf("REMOVED: The string-keys flag is no longer used.")
 	}
 
 	// Validate arguments.